Compressive stocking



July 8, 1958 J. J. BIRD ET AL 2,841,971

' y 1958 J. J. BIRD ET AL 2,841,971

COMFRESSIYE STOCKING Filed Aug. 19, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 t 2' JOSEPH J. BlRD. N Yb MARVIN H.COMER, d3

, CHARUE A. MILES l and RALPH C. BRAWQN,

INVENTORS I\ BY 6.0km, M, A115,

ATTORNEYS y 1958 J. J. BIRD ETAL 2,841,971

COMPRESSIVE STOCKING Filed A'k lg. 19, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 J'osEPH J. EH20,

MARvm H. COMER, CHARLIE A. Muss and RALPH C. BRAXTON,

INVENTORS $1 601., MAMH gw ATTORNEYS Unite COMPRESSIVLE STQCKWE Joseph J. Bird, Marvin H. Comer, Charlie A. Miles, and Ralph C. 'Braxton, Burlington, N. (3., assigncrs to Alamance Industries, Inc, Euriington, M, Q, a corps ration of N ortll Carolina Application August 19, 1%7, Serial No. 678,906

24 Claims. (Cl. 66--178) This invention relates to a knit stretchable and retract able garment fabric, particularly hosiery, the stitch loops of which are knit of multiple monofilament synthetic torque yarns to form a stocking which has suflicient compressive or binding force on the leg to be of therapeutic value to the wearer.

Heretofore, stockings having a satisfactory high compressive or binding force on the leg of the wearer have depended upon the inherent elasticity in the yarn or thread of which the stockings were knit. Some of these socalled surgicaP stockings have been knit throughout with an elastic (rubber), or elastic covered yarn, alone or in combination with plain yarn or crimped or curled synthetic stretch yarn. While some of these prior types of elastic stockings provide sufiicient compressive force on the leg of the wearer, they are not as attractive as con ventional monofilarnent stockings. Also, the prior elastic stockings which utilize rubber threads cause some people to have skin reactions and such stockin s rapidly deteriorate with age and washings. Stockings made of crimped or curled synthetic stretch yarn do not have enough coinpressive force to be of any appreciable therapeutic value.

Other types of stretchable and retractable stockings are currently being produced from various types of curled, crimped or torque nylon yarns, but such stockings are produced to fit a wide range of leg and foot sizes without any intention of compressing or binding the leg. Such stockings have a great amount of stretchability and are relatively easy to stretch so that the hose will not bind the leg of the wearer but will merely fit snugly.

The compressive stocking of the present invention dilfers from prior stretchable stockings knit with crimped or torque yarns, since the stocking of the present invention has a high resistance to stretch and, therefore, a strong tendency to return to its normal relaxed position. The present compressive stockings are of particular therapeutic value to persons suffering from pathological conditions in the vascular system of the legs, such as often occur during pregnancy.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a highly compressive stocking, the stitch loops of which are knit of a plurality of inherently inelastic synthetic yarns, each of which has been twisted to impart high torque thereto. The torque yarns in the stitch loops cause the loops to deform or incline when the stocking is relaxed and when stretched the stitch loops will straighten. The use of multiple high torque yarns in the stitch loops will multiply the resistance of the deformed stitch loops to straighten and produce a stocking which has a high resistance to stretch and, therefore, a strong tendency to return to its normally relaxed or unstretched condition resulting in a much higher degree of compression, constrictive or binding force on the leg of the wearer than has heretofore been obtained with torque yarns.

It is another object of this invention to produce a highly compressive stocking knit of synthetic inelastic torque yarns which are impervious and, therefore, will not de- 2,841,971 Patented July 8, 1958 teriorate after many washings and maintain a long life of high compressability.

It is another object of this invention to provide a compressive stocking knit of synthetic inelastic torque yarns which are lustrous and produce a compressive stocking which has a pleasing sheer appearance and which may be worn in comfort by people who are allergic to rubber.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a finished compressive stocking knit in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a greatly enlarged elevation of the area of the stocking, enclosed by the dotted rectangle indicated at 2 in Figure 1, with the stocking being stretched slightly to illustrate the deformity or inclination of the loop stitches;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of one type of conventional- 1y knit stretchable stocking commercially available;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a second type of con ventionally knit stretchable stocking commercially available;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the highly compressive stocking knit according to the present invention to show how it compares in shape with the conventionally knit stocking shown in Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 6 is illustrative of the appearance of the compressive stocking blank after being knit and before seaming to form the compressive stocking, shown in Figures 1 and 5.

Referring to the drawings, the highly compressive stocking or hose, indicated at H4, is knit of a plurality of synthetic yarns, each of which has been twisted independently of each other to produce lively or high torque yarns. The type of synthetic yarn used to produce the high torque yarn is a synthetic .polyamide, known commercially as nylon, which is a thermoplastic yarn capable of being heat-set. Fiber forming synthetic linear condensation polymers other than the polyamide above mentioned which may be twisted to produce high torque yarns suitable for use in the present invention include the polyester yarn, known commercially as Dacron, and other thermoplastic yarns. v

Monofilament high torque yarns are produced by several methods, one of which is by a false twisting operation wherein a single end of monofilament synthetic yarn, such as nylon, is passed upwardly through a rotating hollow spindle and the yarn is twisted in opposite directions on each side of the spindle with the first twist being heat-set below the spindle. Thus, a false twisted torque yarn is produced by twisting, heat-setting and then untwisting. Torque may also be imparted to the yarn by conventional and other equipment.

High torque monofilainent yarn as used in this invention is a thermoplastic yarn which has been heat-set and twisted and has a strong tendency to untwist to its position prior to the twisting operation and may sometimes be referred to as a lively yarn. This liveliness or torque in the yarn, when knitted, causes the knitted stitches to be distorted or inclined in accordance with the direction of the torque or its tendency to untwist.

The compressive stocking of the present invention is preferably knit on a full-fashioned hosiery knitting ma chine by the well known two carrier system. A plurality of unplied torque yarns having torque in one direction are fed to the needles through one carrier and a plurality of unplied torque, yarns having torque in the opposite direction are fed to the needles through the other carrier. The two carriers are alternately operated to feed first one and then the other of the torque yarns to the needles.

Usually, one carrier will be moved across the needle bed and back and then the other carrier will be moved across the needle bed and back so that two courses are knit with the yarn having torque in one direction and two courses then knit with the yarn having torque in the opposite direction. Obviously the alternation of courses or groups of courses may be varied as desired. Following the knitting, the stocking I-I-l is seamed, dyed and boarded in a conventional manner.

By using plural unplied high torque yarns of the same torque direction in each course with each of said yarns being free and movable independently of the other, greater compression is obtained due to the combined independent action of each yarn tending to distort the fabric loops and draw up the stocking This combined torque reaction results in a highly compressive fabric heretofore unattainable without the use of rubber yarns.

A specific but non-limiting example of the torque yarns and manner of knitting a satisfactory compressive stocking is described as follows. Suitable high torque yarns are provided by independently false twisting a group of eight monofilament 15 denier nylon yarns. Four of these yarns are false twisted with 40 turns per inch in a first or Z direction with each yarn being twisted separate from the others and each passing through a separate false twist spindle. The other four of these yarns each are separately false twisted with 40 turns per inch in a second or S direction. Although 40 turns per inch are put in the yarn, they are removed after the yarn passes through the false spindle and thus the resulting torque yarn produced has substantially no turns of twist but has high torque. The yarn is set while false twisting which also pre-shrinks the yarn.

The individual yarn ends, both the S and 2 torque, are then wound from the take-up bobbins of the false twisting machine onto suitable cones for use on the knitting machine. During this winding operation, a suitable lubricating oil, such as a wax base anti-static oil of approximately 90 viscosity, is applied to the yarn in its path of travel from the take-up bobbins to the cones. This results in eight knitting cones, four of which have a single end of Z torque yarn wound thereon and four of which have a single end of S torque yarn wound thereon.

In knitting the stocking blank (Figure 6), a standard 51 gauge full-fashioned knitting machine is used and a conventional turned welt 10 and after-welt 11 are knit by a single yarn carrier which has a single end of 70 denier non-torque nylon yarn fed thereto. After the welt 10 and after-welt 11 have been completed, the leg or boot 12 of the stocking blank is knitted by the two carrier system. The yarn ends from the four Z torque cones are fed, without plying, to one carrier .and the yarn ends from the four S torque cones are fed, without plying, to the other carrier.

In order to control the liveliness of the yarns during knitting, it has been found advantageous to additionally treat the yarn with lubricating oil such as that used during winding. This is most conveniently accomplished by dipping the yarn cones into an oil bath for approximately three minutes prior to placing them on the machine to deaden the static and to maintain a greater than normal amount of tension on the yarn as it passes from the yarn cones to the respective yarn carriers. It is also desirable that each yarn pass over an oil supply wick in its path of travel to the carriers.

The boot or leg 12 of the blank (Figure 6) is knit with one carrier, feeding the Z torque yarns, making two courses and the other carrier, feeding the S torque yarns, making the next two courses and alternating throughout the length of the remainder of the stocking blank.

In order to reduce the width of the boot or leg portion 12 below the normal width of a 51 gauge stocking, the number of narrowings, at opposite sides of the blank, indicated at 13 and 14, are increased by 8 narrowings over the number of narrowings in the conventional 51 gauge construction. These eight extra narrowings at the flair or beginning of the leg portion 12 decrease the total number of needles knitting in the leg portion by 32 needles. The leg 12 of the blank is also further reduced by calf narrowings at opposite sides of the blank, indicated at 15 and 16. Preferably, the number of narrowings is decreased from the regular number of narrowings in the regular 51 gauge stocking construction to cause a sharper reduction in the fabric width. Obviously, the amount of reduction in fabric width need not be exactly as indicated in this specific illustration, but may vary in accordance with the size of the stocking and the desired compressive or binding force desired for the particular wearer.

The heel pocket, indicated at 17 and 18, is formed at opposite sides of the blank in the usual manner by first widening or increasing the number of needles knitting and then decreasing or narrowing the number of needles knitting until the heel pockets 17 and 18 have been finished. The foot or instep, indicated at 20, is then knit, following the alternating two carrier system and the toe is then knit with the usual narrowing operation and in making what is commonly known as a loopless toe construction by narrowing the number of needles knitting down to a very few to form a tail or tip indicated at 21. The heel pockets 17 and 18, the foot 20 and the toe may be reinforced to increase the resistance of the stocking to wear by knitting a suitable reinforcing yarn, such as denier neutral yarn, in with the torque yarns. The reinforcing yarns are fed to the needles by the usual splicing yarn carriers working in conjunction with the alternating torque yarn carriers. Although the above example is described as being knit in a manner similar to 51 gauge stockings, it is to be understood that the gauge could vary from 42 to 60.

Following the knitting, the stocking blank is seamed to join the two selvages and form the completed stocking H-l (Figure l). The knitted and seamed stocking is then dyed and finished by the conventional processes without further heat-setting.

The deformity or inclination of the stitch loops is best shown in Figure 2 and where it is shown that the four yarns with S torque, indicated at 5-1, 8-2, S3 and 54, cause the stitch loops to incline in one direction and the four yarns with Z torque, indicated at Z-1 Z-2, Z-3 and Z-4, cause the stitch loops to incline in the other direction. The fabric in Figure 2 is slightly stretched and when the fabric is completely relaxed, the stitch loops are much more deformed and inclined.

The stocking H1, knit as above described, provides a very satisfactory highly compressive stocking. When flattened and the opposite sides are stretched course-wise on a Charbert Modulus tester, the compressive forces at the welt indicated at A (Figure 5), the knee indicated at B, the ankle indicated at C, the instep indicated at D, and the foot indicated at E, are shown by the following table:

COMPRESSION CHART I Stocking H-1 (Figure 5) 6O Compressive Force (in pounds) Inches Stretched A B o D E The blanks in the chart indicate that the stocking would not stretch to the lengths indicated in these areas.

The increased compressive force of this stocking H-l may best be illustrated by comparing it with other types a) of all nylon stretchable hosiery knit with torque yarn such as those illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

The stocking illustrated in Figure 4 and indicated at H-Z includes a turned welt 30 and after-welt 31 and non torque 40 denier yarn, a leg or boot 32 and a foot 33. The leg 32 and foot 33 are knit with the alternating two carrier system, one carrier feeding a single end of cold processed, i. e., non-heat set, denier monofilament nyion torque yarn having torque in one direction, and another carrier feeding a single end of like yarn having torque in a direction opposite the direction of torque in the first yarn.

The distorted stitches of the stocking H-Z cause the stocking to stretch and retract easily and, therefore, the stocking has only a slight compressive force on the leg so that the stocking will fit snugly.

The amount of compressive force at various points, spaced longitudinally along the stocking and indicated at A-l, B-I, C-I, D-ll and E1 have been determined by stretching the stocking H-2 in the same manner as stocking H-l with the following results:

COMPRESSION CHART II Stocking H-2 (Figure 4) By comparing the charts I and II the compressive forces of the stocking H-1 are much higher than the compressive forces of the stocking H-2 at all points except at the welts A and A1 which are knit of single non-torque yarns and, therefore, are comparatively close. It will be noted that the rate of increase of compressive force rises much faster as the stocking H-l is stretched than does the rate of compressive force as the stocking H-Z is stretched. For instance, it requires 11% pounds of additional pull to stretch the stocking H-l from 3 inches to 4 inches at the point E and it requires only of a pound of additional pull to stretch the stocking H-2 from 3 inches to 4 inches at the point E-2.

Another stretchable stocking H-S, knit of another type torque yarn, may be compared with the compressive stocking H-l for illustrating the greatly increased amount of compressive force in the stocking H4. The welt 40 and the after-welt 41 of the stocking H-3 are knit of a single non-torque 40 denier yarn in an identical manner to the manner in which the welt and the after- Welt of the stockings H-1 and H-2 were knit.

Following the knitting of the welt 40 and the after-welt 41, the boot or leg 42 is knit by the two carrier system with one carrier feeding two ends of 15 denier monofilament torque yarns which have been heat-set and subsequently twisted. The other or second yarn carrier feeds two ends of 1.5 denier monofilament torque yarns which have been heat-set and subsequently twisted and which have a torque opposite to the torque of the yarns in the first carrier. The leg 42 and foot 43 of the stocking H-3 are knitted by alternating the two carriers, in a conventional manner. The stocking H-3 is stretchable and retractable, but has no appreciable compressive force on the leg of a wearer. The amount of compressive force at the portions A-Z, B4, C4, D-2 and E4. is very small and has been measured like stockings H1 and H-2 at various stages of stretch. The measured compres- Compressive Fiorco (in pounds) a Inches Stretched A-2 B-2 ll-2 D-2 E-2 1 a a a a 1 a M a 1 9t 1 1 1% l 1% 1%; 1 4 1 2 1% 1 1 1% 2% 2% 1% n 1% 2 2% .4 2

By comparing the Compression chart III to the Compression chart I, it will be readily observed that the compressive forces in all of the areas B, C, D and E are much greater than the compressive forces in the corresponding positions 13-2, 0-2 and 1-3-2. The compressive force in the areas A and A2 still correspond fairly close since both of these areas were knit with a single non-torque yarn.

The Compression charts I, II and III provide a graphic illustration of the much higher compressive force of the stocking H4. over the stockings H2 and I-I3, although all three stockings are knit completely of monofilament torque nylon yarns, the difference in compressive force being due to the use of multiple torque yarns in each stitch loop of the hose H4.

Although specific examples are given for knitting the compressive stocking I-I-l, it is to be understood that they may vary so long as the high compressive forces of the stocking are maintained. In order to obtain sufiicient torque, it is necessary to twist the yarns within the range of about 35 to 50 turns per inch, approximately the number of turns necessary to produce sufficient torque in the yarn varying with the size or denier of the yarn. For example, it is possible, within the scope of this in-- vention to produce sufiicient torque in the yarn by heatsetting and twisting three 20 denier yarns 40 turns per inch and then feeding these yarns together to form stitch loops which have substantially the same compressive force as the four yarn stitch loops described in knitting the stocking I-I-ll. It is also possible to achieve the sul'licient torque in the yarn by twisting five 10 denier yarns 50 turns per inch and then knitting them together in unplied condition to form stitch loops which have substantially the same compressive force as the four yarn stitch loops described in knitting the stocking H4. The compressive forces in chart I will also vary from those shown if the stocking blank (Figure 6) is knitted wider or narrower than the blank described.

It is thus seen that we have provided a highly compressive stocking, utilizing no rubber, by knitting a pinrality of, at least three, independent high torque yarns in each loop of the knitting stocking. The compressive stocking thus formed is of great therapeutic value to people suffering from pathological conditions of the vas cular system which are often found in the case of pregnant women. Thus, a compressive stocking has been provided which is pleasing in appearance and which has none of the objectionable features of prior stockings comprised partially or wholly of rubber yarn and which is knit of long lasting non-deteriorating yarns, such as nylon, with each loop stitch being formed of multiple yarns so that runs, picks, snags and the like are less likely to occur than would be the case where the stitch loops of a steel ing knit are knit with a single yarn. The stocking of this invention is non-irritating, and is long wearing, better feeling, quicker drying, and cooler than other socalled support type stockings.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

We claim.

1. A highly compressive tubular garment comprising a plurality of knitted courses, each of said courses formed from a plurality of independent high torque lively monofilament yarns, the torque direction of said plurality of yarns in the same course being the same, and the torque direction of the yarns in some courses being opposite to the torque direction of the yarns in other courses.

2. A highly compressive tubular garment comprising a plurality of knitted courses, each of said courses formed from at least three independent high torque lively monofilament yarns, the torque direction of all yarns in the same course being the same, and the torque direction of the yarns in some courses being opposite to the torque direction of the yarns in other courses.

- 3. A knitted compressive stocking comprising multiple yarn stitch loops, each yarn in each of the stitch loops consisting of a synthetic high torque yarn, the yarns in each loop being independent nonplied monofilament yarns, the direction of the torque in each of the yarns in corresponding stitch loops being in the same direction and the torque direction of the yarns in some courses being opposite to the torque direction of the yarns in other courses whereby the stitch loops deform when the stocking is relaxed and when the stocking is worn, the stitch loops straighten but have a strong tendency to return to the deformed condition to compress the leg of the wearer.

4. A stocking according to claim 3, wherein the torque yarns have been heat set and twisted and have a strong tendency to untwist.

5. A stocking according to claim 3 wherein the yarns of each of Said stitch loops are denier nylon.

6. A stocking according to claim 3 wherein the yarns of each of said stitch loops are twisted 40 turns per inch.

7. A relaxed knitted compressive stocking comprising alternating courses of stitches distorted in one direction, intervening courses of stitches distorted in an opposite direction, the stitches of the alternating courses knit of multiple independent synthetic heat set torque yarns, the stitches of the intervening courses knit of multiple independent synthetic heat set torque yarns, and the direction of torque in the yarn of the alternating courses being in a direction opposite the direction of torque in the yarn of the intervening courses.

8. A knitted compressive tubular garment having a knee portion, said knee portion comprising a plurality of courses of stitch loops of a plurality of independent yarns, there being at least three yarns in some courses having a torque in one direction and at least three yarns in other courses having a torque in an opposite direction, said stitch loops being knit in courses extending transversely of the length of said garment, and said knee portion having a compressive force when extended in a course-wise direction from a relaxed condition of; more than 10 ounces When extended 1 inch, more than 1% pounds when extended 2 inches, more than 2 pounds when extended 3 inches, more than 4 pounds when extended 4 inches, and more than 6 pounds when extended 5 inches.

9. A knitted compressive tubular garment having an ankle portion, said ankle portion comprising a plurality of courses of stitch loops of a plurality of independent yarns, there being at least three yarns in some courses having a torque in one direction and at least three yarns in other courses having a torque in an opposite direction, said stitch loops being knit in courses extending transverseiy of the length of said stocking, and said ankle portion having a compressive force when extended in a course-wise direction from a relaxed condition, more than 10 ounces when extended one inch, more than 1% pounds when extended two inches, more than 3 pounds when extended three inches, and more than 6 pounds when extended four inches. 7

10. A knitted compressive tubular garment having an instep, said instep comprising a plurality of courses of stitch loops of a plurality of independent yarns, there being at least three yarns in some courses having a torque in one direction and at least three yarns in other courses having a torque in an opposite direction, said stitch loops being knit in courses extending transversely of the length of said stocking, and said instep having a compressive force when extended in a course-wise direction from a relaxed condition of; more than 10 ounces when extended one inch, more than 2 pounds when extended two inches, more than 4 pounds when extended three inches, and more than 8 pounds when extended four inches.

11. A knitted compressive tubular garment having a foot portion, said foot portion comprising a plurality of courses of stitch loops of a plurality of independent yarns, there being at least three yarns in some courses having a torque in one direction and at least three yarns in other courses having a torque in an opposite direction, said stitch loops being knit in courses extending transversely of the length of said stocking, and said foot portion having a compressive force when extended in a course-wise direction from a relaxed condition of; more than 10 ounces when extended one inch, more than 1% pounds when extended two inches, more than 4 pounds when extended three inches, and more than 6 pounds when extended four inches.

12. A knitted compressive stocking having a knee portion, said knee portion comprising a plurality of courses of stitch loops of a plurality of independent yarns, there being at least four yarns in some courses having a high torque in one direction and at least four yarns in other courses having a high torque in an opposite direction, said stitch loops being knit in courses extending transversely of the length of said stocking, and said knee portion having a compressive force when extended in a course-wise direction from a relaxed condition of; about pound when exetended one inch, about 1% pounds when ex tended two inches, substantially 2% pounds when extended three inches, about 5% pounds when extended four inches, and about 9% pounds when extended five inches.

13. A knitted compressive stocking having an ankle portion, said ankle portion comprising a plurality of courses of stitch loops of a plurality of independent yarns, there being at least four yarns in some courses having a high torque in one direction and at least four yarns in other courses having a high torque in an opposite direction, said stitch loops being knit in courses extending transversely of the length of said stocking, and said ankle portion having a compressive force when extended in a course-wise direction from a relaxed condition of; about 1% pounds when extended one inch, about 2% pounds when extended two inches, about 6% pounds when extended three inches, and about 19 pounds when extended four inches.

14. A knitted compressive stocking having an instep, said instep comprising a plurality of courses of stitch loops of a plurality of independent yarns, there being at least four yarns in some courses having a high torque in one direction and at least four yarns in other courses having a high torque in an opposite direction, said stitch loops being knit in courses extending transversely of the length of said stocking, and said instep having a compressive force when extended in a course-wise direction from a relaxed condition of; about 1 /2 pounds when extended one inch, about 3 pounds when extended two inches, substantially 7% pounds when extended three inches, and about 19 pounds when extended four inches.

15. A knitted compressive stocking having a foot portion, said foot portion comprising a plurality of courses of stitch loops of a plurality of independent yarns, there being at least four yarns in some courses having a high torque in one direction and at least four yarns in other courses having a high torque in an opposite direction, said stitch loops being knit in courses extending transversely of the length of said stocking, and said foot portion having a compressive force when extended in a course-wise direction from a relaxed condition of; about /4 pound when extended one inch, about 2 pounds when extended two inches, about 5 pounds when extended three inches, and about 17 pounds when extended four inches.

16. A highly compressible knitted stocking comprising a plurality of transversely extending courses, each of said courses formed from a plurality of independent high torque lively monofilament yarns, the torque direction of said plurality of yarns being the same in each course, the torque direction of the yarns in some courses being opposite to the torque direction of the yarns in other courses, and said stocking having compressive forces, when extended in a course-wise direction from a relaxed condition, at the portions indicated substantially in accordance with the following chart:

Ankle, lbs.

Inches Stretched Knee,

lbs.

17. A stocking having a leg portion which is highly compressive, said leg portion being formed of a plurality of knitted courses, each course having at least four independent non-elastic, high torque monofilament nylon yarns therein, the torque direction of all yarns in each course being the same, and the torque direction of yarns in alternating courses being opposite to the torque direction of yarns in intervening courses, whereby a strong resistance to stretch is produced by the multiplied torque of the independent yarns and the compressive force of the stocking is sufiicient to provide support for the leg of a wearer.

18. A stocking according to claim 17 wherein the torque yarns have been heat set and have a torque equivalent to about 35 to 50 turns of twist per inch.

19. A compressive stocking fabric having a strong resistance to stretch sufiicient to provide support for the leg of a wearer comprising a plurality of knitted courses each formed of at least four inherently inelastic heat set high torque monofilament nyoln yarns, said yarns being unplied prior to knitting and each of said yarns having an independent tendency to untwist, the untwisting action of all of said yarns Causing the stitch loops to deform when the stocking is relaxed, the torque direction of the yarns in each course being the same and the torque direction of the yarns in some courses being opposite to the torque direction of the yarns in other courses.

20. A stocking fabric according to claim 19 wherein the torque yarns have been heat set and have a torque equivalent to about 35 to 50 turns of twist per inch.

21. A highly compressive knitted stocking adapted to provide therapeutic support for the leg of a wearer and having leg and ankle portions formed of a plurality of courses, each of said courses being formed of a plurality of independent high torque lively monofilament nylon yarns, the torque direction of the yarns in the same course being the same and the torque direction of the yarns in some courses being opposite to the torque direction in other courses, whereby the combined compressive force of the torque yarns is at least two pounds when the fabric is extended from a relaxed condition three inches in a course-wise direction.

22. A stocking according to claim 21 wherein the torque yarns have been heat set and have a torque equivalent to about 35 to 50 turns of twist per inch.

23. A highly compressive knitted stocking adapted to provide therapeutic support for the leg of a wearer and having leg and ankle portions formed of a plurality of courses, each of said courses being formed of a plurality of independent high torque lively monofilament nylon yarns, the torque direction of the yarns in the same course being the same and the torque direction of the yarns in some courses being opposite to the torque direction in other courses, whereby the combined compressive force of the torque yarns in said leg portion is at least two pounds and the combined compressive force of the torque yarns in said angle portion is at least five pounds when the fabric is extended from a relaxed condition three inches in a coursewise direction.

24. A stocking according to claim 23 wherein the torque yarns have been heat set and have a torque equivalent to about 35 to 50 turns of twist per inch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,636,369 Tait Apr. 28, 1953 2,641,914 Neumager June 16, 1953 2,755,616 Weller July 24, 1956 2,832,125 Knohl Apr. 29, 1958 CERTIFICATE OF -CORRECTION Patent No. 2,841,971 July 8, 1958 Joseph J. Bird et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in theprinted specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 8, line 43, claim 12, for substantially 2 3/4 pounds" read about 2 3/4 pounds lines '71 and '72, claim 14, for "substantially" read about Signed and sealed this 28th day of October 1958.

Attest:

KARL H. .AXLINE Attesting Ofiicer ROBERT C. WATSON Commissioner of Patents 

